Improvement in clasps



E. K; HAYNES.

Clasp.

No. 198,108. Patenfed Dec .H,187 7.

UNITED STAT S PATENTOFFIGE.

EDGAR K. HAYNES, or BoSToN, MASSACHUSETTS.

- IMPROVEMENT lN CLASPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,108, dated December11, 1877; application filed October 31, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR K. HAYNES, of Boston, in the county-of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Fastening Deviceor Clasp, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to a fastening device for garments and otherpurposes, wherein a piece of fibrous material is to be caught and held.

The invention consists in a fastening device composed of two jaws, onerecessed or made double,and the other a yielding jaw to enter the recessin the double jaw, the two jaws be-.

caught between the jaws.

In this fastening one jaw is arranged to pass by and between portions ofthe other jaw, the two jaws thereby shutting, the one past the other,and bending or crowding the material between them.

The fastening is specially applicable for use in connection withstocking or garment Supporters, for skirt-holders, and forumbrellafastenings.

Figure 1 represents one of my improved fastenings in side elevation, ithaving an elongated eye to receive a strap; Fig. 2, one of suchfastenings with a round eye to receive a cord; Fig. 3, an edgeview ofFig. 1; Fig. 4, a pin connected with a fastening. Fig. 5 illustrates amodification, in which the jaws are composed of sheet metal rather thanwire; Fig. 6, a

cross-section on line .10 ac; Fig. 7, a modification, showing thefastening adapted for a napkin-holder; and Fig. 8, adetail.

The fastenings shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are composed of one piece ofwire. The wire, of proper diameter, material, and length, accordingtothe use designed for the fastening, may be bent to form the eye orpassagea, (see Figs. 3 and 8,) and one end of the wire may be bentaround the wire, as at I), or it .may be extended higher up, to thepoint I)". (See Fig. 2.) These adjacent portions of the wire, from thepoint I) to the fold or bend c, constitute the recessed or double jaw,as shown in Fig. 8. The wire is bent to form a loop, rl, either oblongor round, to receive a strap or cord, and the free end of the wire isthen inserted .through and between the members 2 3' of the recessed jaw,and bent around the bend c of the other jaw, the wire at such bendforming a pivot or fulcrum forthe end of the part f constituting theyielding jaw.

The edge of one jaw overlaps or crosses the edge of the other jaw abovethe pivotal points of the jaws, and yet farther from such pivotal pointis an opening, g, for the easy passage to the jaws of the material to beheld by them.

The loop d of the fastening is formed by crossing the wire, and withmaterial between the jaws, and a strap or equivalent connected with theloop, it is obvious that the harderthe strain exerted upon the fasteningby the strap and material, the more will the jaws cross and bite, andthe harder will they hold the maeri l between them.

. A fastening constructed in this way will not cut the most delicatefabric, and will hold fabrics or cords.

In Fig. 4, I have added a pin or attaching device, 4, by which to securethe fastening to one garment while the fastening engages and holds upanother garment, or a portion of a garment.

In Fig. 5 the jaws are made of sheet metal, pivoted together at h, andconnected at top with a wire loop. This loop may be provided with a pin,or, if made large enough to be used as a skirt-holder, it may be securedto a chain or hook to be connected with a belt, or at the waist of thewearer.

When composed of sheet metal the fastening may bemade ornamental, and beof silver or gold, or be plated.

It is obvious that the loop (1 might be omitted, but thefastening wouldnot be so good as with it. Afastening such as shown in Fig. 2 may beconnected with a shoe by means of a staple, and serve as a fastening fora string or lacing.

It will be noticed (see Figs. 1 to 4L)that the wire above the lower endof the fastening, where the jaws are pivoted together, springs or yieldsto the material crowded between the aws.

The hook 00, Fig. 7, forms an attaching device, which may be caught uponany portion of the collar or coat.

I claim 1. A fastening device composed of two jaws, one recessed or madedouble, and the other made as a yielding jaw to enter the recess in thedouble jaw, the two jaws being pivoted together at theirlower ends, andhaving their faces crossed near their pivotal points, to receive betweentheir faces a fabric passed from the eye or enlarged open portion of thefastening, and to hold such fabric without cutting it, substantially asdescribed.

2. A fastening composed of pivoted jaws,

adapted to cross the edge or face of one be? yond the edge or face ofthe other, and of a loop, d, to permit the jaws to be closed by pullingon such loop, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a fastening device composed of a recessed and ayielding jaw pivoted together, and having their faces crossed, asdescribed, above their pivotal points, and

below an eye leading into such jaws, of an attachin g device to hold thefastening device in place, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. v v

EDGAR K. HAYNES.

Witnesses E. O. PERKINS, A. HUNESWADEL.

